Urban Renewal: Building Simple Objectives

March 14, 2008 by Guant · Filed Under Modeling & Scenery

Hey LO again, this time I’m back with an easy how to for making objective markers. I’ve made three over the last few nights with what ever bits I had laying around and now I’m going to tell you how to. For senior members and others who have been in the hobby awhile these might seems very easy but its a nice how to for those less experienced with scenery.

Ill go from easiest to hardest.

1) Field Grave

I’m not sure how it came about but the end all of scape goats for my army is the one character Jenkins. No matter what happens it can somehow always be blamed on Jenkins so when he died(well at least one of the many many many times) I decided to build a grave for him. Its quite an easy build that can be used just to add some flavor to the field or represent sacred ground for Cities of Death.

Materials:
1 medium to large base
Some bitz from your army
Something to represent a grave marker(themed to your army)
Some foam

Sculpt a mound out of the foam and place it in the center of the base. Make it look like a pile of dirt. Then glue down your grave marker behind the mound. Cover the base with white glue and then dunk it in dirt or what ever else you’re going to base with. After it dries glue down something symbolic of you’re army or the character thats dead. In my case I used a spare helmet and las-gun. Then paint according to you tables color theme.

BASE PAINTING- First paint everyhting in a dark color, not black but someting that is very close. I use colors like bittersweet chocloate or Burnt Sierra. Next dry brush over that with a lighter color, some sort of brown. And finally very lightly dust over a sandy looking color on top. And presto instant good looking base.

2) Communications Array
This little piece is always a good objective whether you’re playing cities of death or just a regular game. And you’re friends will think your very crafty after seeing it.

Materials:
Dozer Blade and support from Imperial tank spur
Communication bitz
Medium to large base
Wood putty

Glue the dozer when it dries it get heavy and this piece of scenery is top heavy, it to the support piece as shown or however you want it to look. Then using some wood putty cement the pieces to the base. Use wood putty becauseblanches out in the end. The best stuff in my opinion is Elmers water based Wood Putty. Its messy but its awesome when it dries and don’t produce any bad smells. Next glue dodads and bitz on in any way or order so it looks important and communications like (Yes that made no sense but hey that’s life). I used some spare tank pieces and some backpack communication pieces. Base and paint accordingly to you army and table.

3) Heroic Statue
“But Michael” you say, “All I have at home is an extra figure and a peanut butter jar lid. How am I to make any of your cool scenery?” Fear not my friends for I have just the piece for you too.

Materials:

Heroic looking figure
Peanut Butter Jar Lid
Foam
Foam Board

OK to start off just grab the closest heroic looking figure that you don’t need, or anything else that would fit the bill. Glue it to the top of the lid with PLASTIC glue. Then glue the lid with WHITE glue to the top of a small piece of foam board or what ever you use for the bases of your scenery. Carve some foam to fit next to the lid on the base to represent a pile of debris, that comes into play later. *Paint over any exposed pink foam with any color NOW, or your primer will eat it away* Prime the base in a grey or white primer very important not to use black. Now to paint the statue so it looks old and worn start out with a quick dry-brushing of any grey. Then use washes of different browns, rusty colors, dark browns, a deep green if you want, and some sort of sandy color. To make a wash take a bottle cap. Dip your brush into some of the color paint you want. Then slowly water it down until it has the consistence of water. You want it thin, but not so thin that its see through. Brush it onto the mole and let it dry, even if it forms large beads. The water will make interesting effects with the paint after it dries, just give it time. The final step in painting it to use a black wash sparingly. This will destroy any color effects you created before so be careful. Only use it to bring in sharp detail around the face, skull motifs, and other large raised areas with allot of detail like chains or the edges of armor. Paint the lid in a similar fashion. Then cover the foam in dirt and glue and randomly add some dirt here and there on the base. Paint and there you have it, a kick ass center piece for any city or town square.

SNOW BASING- As you see my city has recently had a snow storm and yes Ill even tell you how to make snow effects. (Man what a guy Mike is) I use DecorArt’s Snow-Tex, found at any Michael’s Craft store in the paint isle, right next to the wood putty and other stuff I use. It come in 2oz. and 5oz. bottles and believe me that’s allot of snow. Make sure its wet before you buy it!!! Ok so then when you come home grab a paint brush and mix it up in the bottle, don’t worry about the brush because this stuff comes right off. Get some on your brush and drop it on top of any exposed surfaces. Spreading it out carefully to keep its shape. Push it around so it looks natural. Use reference pictures of real snow if you have to. Then when it comes to the base, just randomly brush in big globs of the snow and dry-brush it around the base to give it that just snowed lightly look. It even works on tanks and figures too. Then once happy put it aside to dry for 6 hours and there you have it. This stuff is durable and will last a pretty good knock so its great for scenery which has to be durable.